Spotlight’s on the Wandering Weekend Warrior

Travel hugots and Philippine destination puns have been viral on the web. We’ve seen and share these posts on social media and got entertained as it tackles things about traveling that most of us can relate to. Behind these posts is a wanderlust that brings out our inner “hugot” with one weekend trip at a time.

Popularly known as Wandering Weekend Warrior, Jonas Roque is a web applications developer on weekdays and a traveler on weekends. He keeps a blog and he injects humor in his posts, bringing him a number of followers and readers.

Let’s get to know more of the guy behind Facebuko and Juan Hugot Away.

1. Why do you travel? What made you decide to continue exploring certain places?

The reason behind why we travel is unknown until we experience it by our own selves. At the top of my mind, I travel because I want to relax or to move on from a heartbreak, but as I continue exploring and appreciating places, more reasons unfold. These reasons hold weight more. Travel is synonymous to discovery. I find pleasure. I seek purpose.

2. How often do you travel?

I am carrying out my duties as a weekend warrior wholeheartedly and with open arms. Thus, I travel every weekend.

It can be an out-of-town trip or even out-of-the-country. I also rediscover Metro Manila and my home province Bulacan. As long as my day job allows me to take a leave, I am on-the-go.

3. Where did you first travel? How was the experience?

My first solo backpacking happened in Singapore and Malaysia and that has helped me visualize the fulfillments and demands of solo traveling. But it was only after my travel in Ilocandia brought this idea of traveling every weekend, non-stop. I learned to appreciate and to discover more about our country. Going to Ilocos by land is tiresome but once we got to see what the provinces are offering, the picturesque views are worth sitting for a long time.

4. Can you give us three of the most remarkable places in the country that you have been to? Why?

I’ve been asked with the same question for several times but I still feel answering this one with passion. It’s about favorites and close to one’s heart. These are the places that I won’t get tired of seeing.

El Nido is my favorite beach destination. Everyone should visit the Bacuit archipelago. I’m going back there to visit the other islands which I missed during my first visit because there are a lot of them. When the world voted El Nido as the best island in the planet, what else can go wrong?

To be in Batanes is quite tricky if someone wants to go there on a budget trip. But if you have the luxury of pocket money and vacation leaves, staying or even getting stranded in Batanes is totally worth splurging. One does not have to be a professional photographer or colorist because the natural beauty and mix of green rolling hills and blue waters of Batanes islands will speak thousand words by itself.

The islands of Cebu surprised me a lot. Every year, I go back to the province because it has variety to offer. I can chase waerfalls, can hop between islands and beaches, cans see underwater creatures, can hike mountains, can be wild in in Sinulog Festival and can be friends with so many beautiful and kind-hearted Cebuanos. I want to stay there in long term since it also strategic geographically in visiting nearby provinces.

5. What are your travel essentials? Can you share us some tips on how to pack light?

Curiosity. Care. Camera.
Leave your emotional baggage. Traveling with a light heart will take you to places further and farther.

6. Which kind of travelling do you enjoy the most—solo or with a group?

Traveling with a group but having solo moments with one of the members is welcome. (laughs)

7. Have you ever had a near-to-death experience or encountered any danger while traveling?

Traveling, like love, is about taking risks. Some of the extreme activities that I already enjoyed were indoor skydiving, paragliding and scuba diving. The most dangerous incident that happened to me is when our raft in Cagayan de Oro toppled and the rapids tool me away. I trusted my safety gears and the guides and everything ends well except that I drank so much water from the river.

8. What are the travel destinations on your bucket list?

Onuk Island, Balabac and Tubbataha Reefs, all these in Palawan waters. I am waiting for Mt. Apo and Mt. Kanlaon to be opened again for climbers. I wish to skydive from Bantayan air in Cebu, too.

9. Is traveling really that expensive? How can one travel without breaking the bank?

Traveling is a luxury but it does not need to be expensive. Having travel as a priority is a good start. You can try different ways such as booking a ticket in advanced, joining a travel community and taking advantage of promos, among others.

For more tips, you check them here.

10. Do you have any playlist whenever you travel?

Yes, I have two travel playlists I am publicly sharing in Spotify. One is a list of songs related to travel and to self-empowerment featuring the hits of Coldplay. OneRepublic and Sara Barailles, to name a few.

The other one is a list of songs with titles that can be used as pun to Philippine destinations like Albay Myself, On Mayon and Bohol New World.

11. What’s the best thing about traveling?

When strangers become friends while traveling and we learned about our similarities, shared interests, unique experiences and mutual friends. It appears like earth is indeed a small world. But at the same time, we’re all wondering and wandering how big the world is because there are so many things yet to discover.

12. What have you become because of traveling?

The social media reach and attention that I am getting as a travel blogger comes with responsibilities. The reason why I travel is for a greater purpose. I will use my strength to influence young travelers and to raise awareness about the uncontrolled tourism explosion that disturbs the natural ecosystem and local culture which is very timely and relevant in the Philippines. I want to show the world, the universe rather, that I am a wandering weekend warrior with a heart.

It’s not too late to unleash the inner wanderlust in you. You can still go on a getaway for the last hurrah this summer or still travel even if the rainy season has started. After all, it’s summer forever.

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